Page 74 of My Promise To Keep

‘Let’s do this.’

#NakedSleepover

Leo

‘Okay, Bo. I gottaget a drink, honey. Why don’t you ask your daddy to dance?’

My goddaughter beams up at me. We’re four songs in, and Missy’s incredible singing voice is still filling the air around us, but I need to try to get near Zoe. That damn dress is killing me.

‘I need to go to the bathroom,’ Bo calls up to me, then turns and runs away, and I laugh. I love that kid.

I notice Zoe standing at the drinks table, serving people as they come up. It was supposed to be a ‘help yourself’ kind of deal, but hey, you can take the girl out of the bar…

‘Hey,’ I say as I join her, and she smiles up at me.

‘Hi, you having fun?’

‘I am. This is good.’ I glance around at the joyful faces of our friends and family, taking in the sounds of music, laughter, and glasses clinking together in celebration. ‘You feel like dancin’, munch?’

She puts down the wine bottle in her hands and nods, the smile never leaving her face.

‘Yes, I do.’

Together, we walk to the dancefloor. Pop and Lu are dancing. Lynnie and Merv, too. Bree is talking to Nick, and I wonder for a second what’s got them so deep in conversation, but then I remember I’m about to have Zoe in my arms.

‘Shall we show ‘em how it’s done, munch?’ I ask as I hold her hand and twirl her into my arms.

‘Absolutely we should.’

The music is upbeat, and we dance, twirling and dipping, laughing the whole time with the other couples around us. This is nothing new for us. We’ve danced together so many times, but it feels different. From the outside looking in, it’s just two old friends enjoying the night, but inside, it’s a moment. It’s our first dance as a couple. It’s the woman I want to grow old with, in my arms for everyone to see.

The song changes. Missy starts to sing a slower melody, and I hold Zoe a little closer as we sway gently. Her attention fixes on my dad and Lu.

‘You okay?’ I ask, and she nods, smiling.

‘Look at them, Leo. They’re so happy.’

I can’t help but pull her a little closer as my attention follows hers and fixes on the way Pop and Lu are smiling and singing to each other.

‘They are. They deserve this.’

‘They really do.’ She wraps her arms around my back and presses her cheek against my chest, and I wish, so fucking badly, that I could kiss her right now.

Lucy meets my eye and smiles so sweetly, then Pop notices her line of sight and follows, grinning when he sees Zoe and me dancing, and they head our way.

‘Thank you for all your help pulling this together,’ he says to both Zoe and me, and she releases me to hug him.

‘Buck, I’m so happy for you,’ I hear her say, and he squeezes her tight.

‘What you say we lose these bozos and cut a rug, just me and you?’ my dad asks, and Zoe laughs.

‘Sounds perfect.’

I hold out my hand for Lucy’s as Pop spins my woman away from me, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy.

‘You showed her, honey?’ Lu asks, and I pull back a little, looking down at her, confused. She chuckles. ‘How right you can be.’

My smile grows wide, and I throw my head back to release a deep breath.

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